Ugandan golfer, Nakalembe wins Nigerian Ladies Open
Irene Nakalembe has cemented the golfing prowess of Ugandan ladies golfers following her victory at the just concluded 2019 Nigerian Ladies Open championship.
Nakalembe, who dethroned her fellow country woman, Evah Magala, is an amateur handicap 4 golfer and was adjudged as best gross player, having played 236 in the three-day event, organised by the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN) at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja
Magala won the 2018 edition held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, but in this edition, returned a gross of 254 to emerge the third best in gross.
Irene grossed 78 on the first day, 80 on the second day while she ended the third day with another 80, totalling 236 to edged out the over 100 golfers who competed for the prestigious 2019 Nigerian Ladies Open trophy
Rachael Danjuma of the IBB International Golf and Country
Club, Abuja, who emerged the runner-up gross, played 248 in the three-day event.
Danjuma, who is the newly elected zonal vice president, North, played 82 on the first day, 82 on the second day and 84 on the last day.
Police woman, Amina Wilfred of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, won the Best Nett with a score of 228, Helen Alechenu of Otukpo Golf Club, Benue State emerged the runner-up net on a count back.
In the auxiliary prizes, Rachael Danjuma shot 220 metres in hole one, which was adjudged as the longest drive, while Evah Magala won nearest to the pin in hole I6 with 1.9 metres.
Eunice Ogah of Port Harcourt Golf Club emerged the winner of Lady Super Veterans, while Folashade Olateju of IBB International Golf and Country Club won the Lady Veterans award.
Speaking with journalists, Nakalembe gave kudos to the Nigerian ladies who, according to her, gave her tough time.
“I feel good. I feel great. Winning is a good feeling, I must say. First I started well, winning with a number of strokes and I maintained.
“The Nigerian ladies are competitive people as they gave me a tough time, but thank God I emerged winner,” she said.
She further spoke on her experience during the few days she spent in Nigeria.
“In fact, our people back home call us Nigerians because we always come and participate in different events here. Now we know how to eat pepper, we can eat Suya and amala. We also understand the terrain of clubs in Nigeria,” she joked.